An autonomous vehicle pilot programme has been launched in the Corktown neighbourhood of Detroit.
The pilot is operating as a car-sharing service that uses tele-operated electric vehicles (EV) which customers can schedule a trip with via a mobile app.
The pilot was launched as part of a collaboration between Sway Mobility and Mapless AI, and is publicly supported by the State of Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification via the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform, the Detroit Transportation Innovation Zone (Tiz), and NextEnergy.
Michael Peters, CEO and Co-Founder of Sway Mobility, said:
“Most car owners only drive their cars a few hours a week, which means many of us spend a lot of money for our cars to sit idle in a parking space or garage…Expanding access to affordable, sustainable mobility options by providing carshare-as-a-service will enable more people – particularly those who cannot or do not want to own a private car – to get around town easily and cost-effectively.”
In Corktown, remote drivers will deploy Sway Mobility’s EVs by leveraging Mapless AI’s safe remote driving technology.
After each day of operation, the cars will also be tele-driven to charging stations to re-charge overnight. The partners also plan to deploy charging spots at various locations as the pilot progresses.
Michigan’s Chief Mobility Officer, Justine Johnson, with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, said:
“By leveraging remote driving technology to expand access to EV carsharing, this initiative demonstrates how mobility technology companies can make it in Michigan. We are proud to support innovative projects like this, which not only reduce transportation costs for residents but also position Michigan at the forefront of next-generation mobility solutions.”
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